Dot Foods inks deal with Mexican company

Mount Sterling-based food distributor Dot Foods is going international, with officials Wednesday announcing a new venture with a Mexico-based company.

Dot Foods and RJ Alimentos of Mexico have formed the joint venture redistribution company, to be named RD Amerimex. RJ Alimentos is owned and operated by Ricardo Garza and family.

“When (Garza) approached us several years ago about expanding the redistribution concept into Mexico, we quickly realized it was an opportunity we needed to explore,” Dot Foods CEO John Tracy said.. “There are several areas outside of the U.S .where we believe the redistribution concept will work. Mexico is just one of many potential international expansion opportunities for Dot.”

The company, which employs 2,230 at its Mount Sterling distribution center, is the largest food industry redistributor in the nation. The Brown County facility is one of nine distribution centers nationwide.

During the past decade, Mexico has become a major player in the travel and tourism industry. With more than 17,000 hotels and 428,000 restaurants nationwide, including numerous American franchise restaurants, Dot Foods representatives said there was a clear need for the efficiencies of redistribution in the food-service industry.

“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand the distribution channels and cultural differences of our counterparts in Mexico. We know that for an expansion into Mexico to be successful, we need a local resource. We couldn’t be happier about partnering with Ricardo and his family,” Tracy said.

RD Amerimex will bring redistribution to a complex and often-fragmented distribution network in Mexico. RD Amerimex products will be redistributed from its warehouse in Monterrey, California, to distributors all across Mexico through temperature-controlled trucks. Customers of RD Amerimex will have access to the majority of Dot Foods’ 105,000-product offering.

RD Amerimex will begin servicing customers this summer.

“Through our partnership, RD Amerimex has the opportunity to provide food-service distributors and chain restaurants a solution to complex supply chain issues in Mexico,” Garza said. “Many distributors in Mexico have recognized increased demand for American food-service products. We can provide a viable solution for distributors looking to get consistent, quality products their customers want and in the quantities they need them.”

“With this new venture to take Dot Foods international, we’re excited about the possibility of growing our supplier partners’ business in a new market,” said Dot Foods international sales manager Jeff Adams. “It’s an opportunity for our manufacturers from a new business perspective. They’ll be able to reach customers they may have never otherwise touched.”

The joint venture is expected to require an additional 12 drivers and 25 warehouse workers for the Mount Sterling distribution center.